News

Kislak Announces 2018 Sales Awards & Recent Promotions

WOODBRIDGE, N.J., January 31, 2018 — The Kislak Company, Inc. announced the recipients of its 2018 sales awards along with promotions for several salespeople at the firm’s annual awards ceremony, which was held on January 10, 2019.

Executive vice president Joni Sweetwood received the Producer of the Year award, vice president Justin Lupo received the Sima Kislak Jelin Salesperson of the Year award and executive vice president Peter Wisniewski received the Transactions award.

“2018 was Kislak’s best year thus far, which is an extraordinary achievement given our 113-year history” said Robert Holland, president. “Many of our salespeople also had the best years of their careers and our awards recipients are truly exceptional and well-deserving of these honors.”

Kislak’s Producer of the Year award is presented to the individual who generated the highest sales volume during the past year. Joni Sweetwood had an extraordinary 2018 closing 15 transactions valued at $150 million. Her sales included the record-breaking $70.5 million sale of the iconic Pavilion Apartments in Newark, New Jersey. It was the single largest sale of a multifamily property in Newark by more than $18,000,000 based on data available from CoStar.

Ms. Sweetwood was also promoted from a senior vice president to an executive vice president. She joined Kislak in 1996 and is one of the firm’s all-time leading salespeople. She has won numerous other sales awards, including the Sima Kislak Jelin Salesperson of the Year award in 2010 and the firm’s production award multiple times since then and has been recognized repeatedly as one of New Jersey’s Commercial Brokerage All Stars and the Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal’s Executive Women in Business.

The Sima Kislak Jelin Salesperson of the Year award is presented to the individual whose performance and professionalism during the past year demonstrated the highest standards of excellence for which Kislak is known. The recipient is chosen by a vote of the sales and management teams. The award is named after the late Mrs. Jelin, who was an executive, key mentor, and motivator to countless salespeople; and the daughter of the firm’s founder, J.I. Kislak.

Mr. Lupo also had an extraordinary year with sales of $75 million and was the deserved recipient of the prestigious award. His sales included the $48.2 million sale of Montage at Hamilton, a 172-unit active adult community in Hamilton Township, New Jersey with an additional 63 units under construction.

Mr. Lupo was also promoted from a sales associate to a vice president. He joined Kislak in 2014, was the recipient of the firm’s 2015 Rookie of the Year award and has become one of its leading salespeople with investment sales totaling $200 million. He specializes in the sale of multifamily and other investment properties in central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

The Transactions award is presented to the individual who closed the most transactions during the past year. Peter Wisniewski also had an extraordinary 2018 and was the recipient of this award for the second consecutive year. In 2018, he closed more than 30 lease and sales transactions in New Jersey including a long term lease for the North American offices/distribution center for MONDOTICCA USA, an international eyewear company in Warren; the sale of Harding Medical Plaza, a medical office complex near Morristown; a long term lease for ZebraSci, a pharmaceutical testing company in Branchburg; the expansion and lease extension for the Global Association of Risk Professionals on the Jersey City waterfront; and a long term lease with Tenshi Kaizen Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals in Branchburg.

Mr. Wisniewski joined Kislak in 2015 and leads the firm’s commercial sales and leasing division. Throughout his career, Wisniewski has leased or sold more than eight million square feet of commercial space and well over 1,000 acres of land and is actively growing Kislak’s presence in the New Jersey commercial real estate market.

In addition to the sales awards, several other promotions were announced.

Don Baxter was promoted from a vice president to a senior vice president. He joined Kislak in 2006 and is consistently among the firm’s leading producers. Mr. Baxter specializes in the sale of multifamily and other investment properties throughout New Jersey with a particular focus on Hudson County where he is among the area’s top producers. His sales total more than $200 million.

Julie Gralla was promoted from a sales associate to a vice president. She joined Kislak in 2011 and specializes in the sale of multifamily and other investment properties in northern New Jersey. In 2012, Ms. Gralla won the firm’s Rookie of the Year award. Her sales total more than $90 million.

Joseph Keenan was promoted from a vice president to a senior vice president. He joined Kislak in 2006 and specializes in the sale of multifamily and other investment properties throughout northern New Jersey. Mr. Keenan received the firm’s Rookie of the Year award in 2008 and was promoted to a vice president in 2012. His sales total more than $160 million.

Daniel Lanni was promoted from a vice president to a senior vice president. He joined Kislak in 2010 and is also consistently among the firm’s leading producers. Mr. Lanni specializes in the sale of multifamily and other investment properties in central New Jersey with a particular focus along the Jersey Shore. He was the recipient of the firm’s 2011 Rookie of the Year Award and was promoted to a vice president in 2014. His sales total more than $150 million.

About The Kislak Company, Inc.

The Kislak Company, Inc., which is headquartered in Woodbridge, New Jersey, is a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm consistently recognized for its investment sales success. Established in 1906, Kislak’s market leadership position and longevity are due to its ability to offer clients a personalized, hands-on approach, coupled with the unrivaled expertise of its long-tenured team of professionals. Kislak’s prestigious client base includes individual investors and owners, partnerships, financial institutions, and REITs. The firm’s 35 professionals provide comprehensive market coverage throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Now in its 113th year, Kislak was among a select group of firms recognized as a 2017 Power Broker by CoStar Group, Inc. and this was the firm’s twelfth consecutive recognition.